Refiner construction



Apnl 21, 1964 D. P. MICHEL ETAL 3,129,898

REFINER CONSTRUCTION Filed April .18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS F DOIVHID R MIC/ii] 2 Q #63917)? M STE/NIGER f jm m April 21, 19-64 D. P. MICHEL ETAL REFINER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1961 United States Patent 3,129,898 REFINER CGNSTRUCTIGN Donald P. Michel and Herman W. Steiniger, both of Springfield, Ghio, assignors to The Bauer Bros. Co., Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 103,905 7 Claims. ((Il. 241-256) This invention relates to pulp refiners and the like wherein a fiowable stock comprising plant fibers or a similar material is subjected to milling between relatively rotatable discs, which discs are movable longitudinally of one another for clearance adjustment, thrust absorption and like purposes.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of pulp refiners, whereby such refiners may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efiicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable 'to a Wide variety of applications, and be unlikely to get out of order.

An object of the invention is to provide for disc adjustment as described without elongation of the machine, and in a manner to obviate increased maintenance and operational hazards.

Another object of the invention is to achieve electric powering of disc rotation in accordance with a structural concept by which longitudinal adjustment of a disc and the shaft to which it is connected imposes no unusual requirements upon the electro-motive means.

Still another object of the invention is to accomplish disc rotation by an electric induction motor which despite relatively longitudinal adjustment of the rotor makes use of standard collector rings and brushes.

A still further object of the invention is to utilize in an electric motor powered refiner as described a generally new rotor shaft assembly, wherein the milling disc thereon, bearings, closure for the refining chamber and collector rings and brushes move as a unit with the shaft for disc adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refiner possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly diagrammatic and in longitudinal section, of the refined constructed in accordance with the illustrated form of the invention, the

. adjustable shaft and disc assembly being there shown positioned after having been moved leftwardly or in a direction to cause the one disc to approach the other;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view like FIG. 1, and relatively enlarged, showing the shaft and disc assembly shifted outwardly or to the right as viewed therein; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the brush holder assembly.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is disclosed as embodied in a disc refiner useful, for example, in the treatment of plant fibers in paper making and allied industries. Thus a pair of opposing discs and 11 operate in a refining chamber 12 defined by a housing 13 upon a base 14. The fibrous material, accompanied by 3,129,898 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 liquid to form a flowable stock, enters a space 15 between the discs Ill and 11 by way of inlet passages 16 and 17 located near the center of the disc 10. In the space 15 the stock material is acted upon by toothed or formed surfaces on the faces of the discs 10 and 11 as the discs rotate relatively to one another. The direction of movement of the stock material is radially outward and it discharges from the space 15 at the peripheries of the discs 10 and 11 into the chamber 12 whence it is removed from the bottom of the refining chamber through a suitable opening (not shown) in the base 14.

The disc 10 is mounted on a shaft 18 and may be either stationary or in rotary motion in the operation of the machine. The disc 11 is mounted on what may be considered to be the inner end of a shaft 19 projecting transversely through the housing 13 into the chamber 12. The shaft 19 is adapted for powered rotation as well as axial adjustment, as will be seen, and accordingly is capable of rotating the disc 11 and of effecting relative approaching and withdrawing movements thereof with respect to the disc 10. The shaft 19 enters chamber 12 through an opening 21 in the housing 13. This opening is closed around the shaft 19, to prevent escape of the treated stock material therefrom, by means including a flexible diaphragm 22. The latter is secured at its outer edge to a ring 23 stationarily mounted in the opening 21. The inner edge of the diaphragm, which is ring shaped to accommodate passage of the shaft 19 therethrough, is secured to a collar 24 mounted on bearings 25 interposed between the collar and a sleeve 26 secured to the rear of disc 11. The collar is thus in effect rotatably mounted upon the shaft 19 which is free to rotate Without affecting the closure achieved by diaphragm 22.

The collar 24 extends outwardly or to the right of bearings 25 to form a part of a stuffing box which includes a circular stationary bearing mount 2'7 resting on a pedestal 28 projecting upwardly from the base 14. Within the mount 27 is an interior bearing sleeve 28' connected by a key 29 and slot 31 to the mount 27 for relative longitudinal motion While being held against relative rotary motion. The interior bearing sleeve 28' engages the shaft 19 through roller bearings 32 and 33 restrained from relative longitudinal motion by rings 34 and 35 on either side thereof. These are in turn held between spaced apart increased diameter flanges 36 and 37 on the shaft 19. The described outer end of the collar 24 enters between the ring 34 and the inner end of sleeve 28' and frictionally grips both elements through oil seals 38 and 39. The opposite end of the sleeve 28' is turned over upon the ring 35 with the result that there is defined a substantially enclosed bearing supporting the shaft 19 in the mount 27 for freedom of rotation therein but integrated with the shaft for unitary axial motion therewith.

The pedestal 28, hearing mount 27 and the stuffing box supported thereby provide what may be considered inboard support for the shaft 19. Outboard support is provided by an upstanding pedestal 41 stationarily supporting a circular bearing mount 42. The outer end of the bearing mount 42 is closed by a plate 43 through which extends a rod 44 from a hydraulic cylinder 45. Additionally, guide rods 46 (one shown) extend through the end plate 43 into the space enclosed by bearing mount 42. An interior bearing sleeve or enclosure 47 is slidably mounted in the bearing mount 42 and non-rotatably connected thereto by means including a key 48. That end of the interior sleeve 47 facing end plate 43 is flanged and abutted by a collar 49 secured to the inwardly projecting end of rod 44. Bores 51 (one shown) receive the guide rods 46. The opposite end of the sleeve 47 has a ring 52 pressed therein. The latter in turn centrally receives an annular member 53 in surrounding relation to a reduced diameter terminal portion 54 of the shaft 19. A shoulder 55 at the base of portion 54 abuts the annular member 53. Thus a bearing enclosure is retained between the collar 49 on rod 44 and shoulder 55 on shaft 19 with such bearing enclosure being longitudinally adjustable in the mount 42 in response to endwise thrust deliveredto'the shaft 19 from the refining chamber or in response to axial adjustment of the rod 44 effected from the hydraulic actuating cylinder 45.

Within the described bearing enclosure is a cup-like part 56 seated on the reduced diameter terminal 54 of the shaft 19 and formed with a radially projecting intermediately disposed flange 57. 'On opposite sides of the flange 57 are respective roller bearings '58 and 59. As a result the outer or outboard end of the shaft '19 is supported for free rotary motion but is adapted for movement with the bearing assembly in which it is received, the bearing assembly and shaft moving as a unit. It will in the latter connection be noted that the bearings 58 and 59 are interposed between the flange 57 and the opposite ends of the bearing enclosure in such manner as to inhibit relative axial motion of the shaft.

Intermediate the inboard and outboard bearing supports is electro-motive means for rotating the shaft. In accordance with the instant inventive concept this is or includes an induction motor comprising only essential motor elements such as a stator 61 stationarily mounted upon the main support or base 14 and surrounding the shaft 19, plus a rotor 62 encircled by the stator and secured to the shaft 19 for unison movement therewith. The motor elements are not enclosed in a conventional motor housing but are protected by super-structure 63 mounted on the base which together'with baffle-means 64 may define confined flow passages for air to move in cooling relation to the motor. In accordance with the mode of operation of induction-motors, energization of the stator windings, diagrammatically indicated at '65, produces an-induced current in the rotor and the latter is constrained to rotate as the induced current assumes a following relation to the rotating magnetic field'in the stator. Current collector means is mounted upon the rotor or more particularly upon the shaft 19 -of which the rotor is apart.

In accordance with the instant inventive idea, the col- 1 lector means takes the form of rings 66 and 67 secured to the shaft 19 through an insulator 68 at-a location near the outboard bearing mount 42. The collector rings are electrically connected to the rotor by means including a cable 69. Brushes 71 and 72 contact the respective rings 66 and 67 and these are stationarily supported by a stud 73 anchored in the bearing enclosure within mount 42 or more particularly in end ring 52 thereof. The stud 73 projects from the bearing enclosure in overlying parallel relation to the shaft 19, and, while it occupies a stationary position as compared to the rotary motion of the shaft 19 and collector rings 72 and 71, is integrated with the shaft and collector rings for longitudinal or endwise motion.

The endwise, traversing movement of the shaft 19'may be suitably initiated and controlled. The hydraulic cylinder 45 may provide a means for damping thrusts originating in the refining chamber as well as a means for effecting selective longitudinal positions for the shaft. The collar 49 may, in this connection, be detachably connected to the end bearing housing as by being bolted to the abutting closed end of sleeve member'47. The shaft 19 and parts mounted thereon make up an integrated assembly movable as a'unit from extreme positions ,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as to intermediate positions. According to a feature of the invention the collectorrings'6667 and cooperating brushes 7172 may be of a standard size and construction since their relative positions do not change under longitudinal adjustment of the shaft assembly. The need for making special elongated rings or brushes, or both, accordingly'is avoided, making it unnecessary to increase the overall length of the machine as well as achieving advantages of simplified maintenance, servicing and the like reducing hazards of operation.

'From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the inven tion is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the inventionis therefore claimed inany of its 'forms or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A refiner or like device, including a main support; relatively stationary bearing mounts occupying spaced apart locations on said support; bearing units contained in said mounts adapted for relative longitudinal motion; a shaft rotatable in said bearing units and connected thereto for unison longitudinal motion; a refiner disc on said shaft; electro-motive means for rotatingsaid shaft including a rotor and collector rings connected to the shaft for motion therewith, brushes mounted to one of said bearing units to contact said rings and means in connection with said shaft through the medium of atleast one of said bearing units arranged to accommodate end thrusts thereon on operation of said disc.

2. A refiner or like device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said bearing units includes a bearing enclosure slidably received in a respective bearing mount and a stud installed in and projecting from one of said enclosures mounting said brushes.

3. A refiner or like device according to claim -l,-char acterized in that said electro-motive means further includes a stator stationarily held by said main support in surrounding relation to-said rotor. V

4. In a refiner or like device providing a main support, a refiner chamber, and spaced bearing mounts; a unitary shaft assembly mounted on said support, said shaft assembly including a shaft and a refining disc thereon in said refining chamber, bearing assemblies connected to said shaft for relative rotary and unison longitudinal motion and slidingly received in respective bearing mounts, each of said bearing assemblies including a bearing enclosure;

' and electro-motive means for rotating said shaft including an electrically energizable statormounted on said support in surrounding relation to said shaft, a rotor on said shaft, collector rings on said shaft, and brushes for said collector rings installed on one of said bearing enclosures.

5. A refineror like device, including a main support, a housing on said support defining a refining chamber, a shaft supported by said main support for relative rotary and axial motions, said shaft extending throughsaid housing into said chamber, a disc on said shaft in said chamber turned by rotation of said shaft and adjusted longitudinally by axial motion thereof, electro-motive means for rotating said shaft, said last named means including collector rings secured to said shaft and-brushes'contacting said rings, and means connected to said shaft -for unison axial and relative rotary motion for mounting said brushes, said shaft and the parts mounted on and supported thereby, including said brushes, forming an assembly movable as a unit in the axial adjustment of said shaft and means for axially adjusting said shaft and resiliently accommodating an axial thrust thereon through the'medium of said disc.

6. A refiner or like device, including a main'support, a housing on said support, defining a refining chamber, inboard and outboard bearing mounts stationary on said main support to one side of said housing, a bearing assembly in each said mount held against relative rotary motion and slidably connected therein for relative longitudinal motion, a shaft extending through the assemblies in said bearing mounts and projecting through and beyond the inboard mount to extend through an opening in said housing into said refining chamber, a disc on said shaft in said chamber, said shaft being rotatable in said bearing assemblies and connected thereto for unison longitudinal motion, said shaft, said bearing assemblies and said disc defining a shaft assembly longitudinally movable as a unit for adjustment of said disc in said refining chamber, and electro-motive means for rotating said shaft, said last named means being positioned about said shaft between said bearing mounts and including spaced collector rings on said shaft and brushes on said rings in connection with said shaft.

7. A refiner unit, including a main support, a housing on said support defining a refining chamber, a shaft having one end extending through an opening in said housing into said refining chamber, a refiner disc on said shaft Within said chamber, a flexible diaphragm closing the opening in said housing around said shaft, said diaphragm being secured at its outer edge to said housing, spaced in surrounding relation to said shaft between said bearing mounts, a rotor secured to said shaft, and collector rings secured to said shaft and brushes contacting the rings and carried by one of said bearing assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 414,659 Seafert Nov. 5, 1889 1,146,030 Snyder July 13, 1915 1,194,645 Lincoln Aug. 15, 1916 1,863,184 Brazeau et al. June 14, 1932 2,216,611 Dimm et a1. Oct. 1, 1940 2,909,333 Shewmon Oct. 20, 1959 2,930,534 Baxter Mar. 29, 1960 

1. A REFINER OR LIKE DEVICE, INCLUDING A MAIN SUPPORT; RELATIVELY STATIONARY BEARING MOUNTS OCCUPYING SPACED APART LOCATIONS ON SAID SUPPORT; BEARING UNITS CONTAINED IN SAID MOUNTS ADAPTED FOR RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOTION; A SHAFT ROTATABLE IN SAID BEARING UNITS AND CONNECTED THERETO FOR UNISON LONGITUDINAL MOTION; A REFINER DISC ON SAID SHAFT; ELECTRO-MOTIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT INCLUDING A ROTOR AND COLLECTOR RINGS CONNECTED TO THE SHAFT FOR MOTION THEREWITH, BRUSHES MOUNTED TO ONE OF SAID BEARING UNITS TO CONTACT SAID RINGS AND MEANS IN CONNECTION WITH SAID SHAFT THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID BEARING UNITS ARRANGED TO ACCOMMODATE END THRUSTS THEREON ON OPERATION OF SAID DISC. 